Hi,

As the sun shines on the houses and landscape I am acutely aware of the sudden fall of leaves from the trees, striding through the leaves as I walked to the post office yesterday, leaves that weren't there on Sunday.  I remember the lovely golds, oranges and browns swirling in the air before settling once more on the ground, only to be launched again by children's feet.  added to which there is a horse chestnut tree in my next door garden, laden with conkers, memories stir of collecting unbroken shells and opening them to reveal the lovely shiny chestnut within.  I just love all the variety that every season brings.

I am getting close to finishing my granddaughters blanket, and the next knitting project is on the back burner ready to go, I have decided which quilting project I am going to start with, a bag to contain all that I need for quilting, a bit like a baby changing bag, but for needlework, I shall crib from my daughters new changing bag.

 Swans on the river Wye on Sunday

Ducklings in our local park

We went to Ross on Wyse for the afternoon on Sunday and as we walked beside the River Wye, the sun glistened on the water, the swans were gliding serenly on the river and the crops had been collected from the field leaving only the stubble waiting to be turned back into the soil and so starts another cycle of growth, I was reminded of a poem Summer Farm by Norman MacCraig, which seems to amply convey the late summer feel.

Summer Farm

Straws like tame lightnings lie about the grass

and hang zigzag on hedges.  Green as glass

The water in the horse trough shines.

Nine ducks go wobbling by in two straight lines.

A hen stares at nothing with one eye,

Then picks it up.  out of an empty sky

a swallow falls and flickering through

the barn, dives up again into the dizzy blue.

I lie not thinking, in the cool, soft grass

afrais of where a thought might take me - as

the grasshopper with the plated face

Unfolds his legs and finds himself in space

Self under self, a pile of selves I stand 

threaded on time, and with metaphisic hand 

lift the farm like a lid and see

farm within form and in the centre, me.

I feel privileged to live in such a lovely and diverse world, and hope you don't mind me sharing this with you.  Enjoy your part of the world wherever you are and speak to you tomorrow.